Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-02
SELECTIONS.
PARTY ORGANIZATION.

tVNs
In moments of disappointment
and detection, the friend OF party
discipline, be he Republican or
Democrat, is wont to complain OF
the lack of unity Of purpose and
action in the party to which he be-
longs, and in turn to extol and
deplore the superior drill aud move
ment of the enemy. The solid vote
OF the Republicans of the House
against the Presidents veto of the
Pauper Pension Bill was cited by
Democrats as a splendid exhibition
of party discipline. On the other
hand, the support given by the
Democrats OF the Senate to an Adj
ministration they at heart disap-
prove, is often referred to in terms
of admiration ny Republicans who
lament the absence of the like party
spirit from Republican councils.
The truth is that, as to both parties,
the case is pretty Leariy even. 1t is
six of the one and half.dozen of the
other, neither party having much
to be proud of in it's discipline.
AS matter of fact, the last fit
teen years abound with examples of
successful revolt against party
organization. Four years after
leading futile rebellion, Carl
Schurz became the Secretary of the
Interior of a strictly orthodox Re-
publican Administration. The other
day Frank Hiscock, who was Cap
tain IN the Greeley campaign, was
elected by the Republicans Of New
York Senator in Congress, having
for twelve years stood well up to-
ward the front among the RepublI
cans of the House. There is no one
of the Mugwump chiefs, whose
secession helped to procure the de-
feat of Blaine in 1884, who would
not be welcomed back to his party
allegiance, and, without question,
given his demand; and, on the
Democratic side, we have in Mr..
Randall an embodiment of lnsubor-
dination, persistent and fragrant, yet
unpublished, and not merely defiant,
but looking solely to the Repnbli-
cans to retain him seat, which he
holds at their bands.
What is the meaning of all this
1t means that the opinions of men
hang loosely upon them. The issues
of the past have spent their force.
The issues of the future have not
taken definite shape. Parties are
largely affairs of association and
held together by personalities
rather than principles. In opinions,
1t is every man for himself. We
have Republican Free Traders and
Democratic Protectionists; States
Right Republicans and Centraliza-
ton Democrats, to say nothing of
the Mugwump, who is one-third Re
publican, and one-third angel, and
entirely too good to live III this
world. Out of this chaos of profess
ions, policies, which will parcel off
the elements on this hand and ON
that, will sooner or later evolve
themselves, and they will not lack
for the passion which enforces
discipline. But, until they do, it is
talking about it.
In the meantime, those who have
convictions aud who see ahead
should keep well together. nor weary
of maintaining truth. The Courier
Journal belongs to this class. 1t is
a Democrat dyed in the wool, a
yard wide, and warranted not to
fade. 1t is a Democrat, and not
afraid or ashamed of its Democracy
1t is a Democrat, from the head.
waters OF Hell-for- Sart.n and the
Forks of Way Back. 1t can drink
out of tin cup, but prefers a gourd.
1t can wear billed shirt, but pre-
fers home-spun. 1t looks back to
the days of the log rolling, the
quiltin' and the fsh-iry as the
halcyon days of the Republic, and
would restore the simple morality
which doubted the virtue of making
money by swindling and the wisdom
of inventions designed to increase
the population by steam. 1t is
sometimes called a Bourbon; and, If
to be this is to be Bourbon, then
Bourbon it is, and we are proud OF
the title. And, please God, we shall
try and keep the old log-heap burn
ing on the hill-with light for the
blind and warmth for the chilled
through the long, dark night of
cowardice, ignorance and disaffec-
ton, and when the morning dawns
and the sun rises-the same old sun
that shone so bright and clear be-
| fore the War-fhere ST all be at Lea ct